Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-08-24
TEg fADULTERATiON.
Inferior Grades Improved by the Free Use
of Poisonous Chemicals.

Inferior Grades Improved by the Free Use
of Poisonous Chemicals.
During the last twelve months there
has been q marked increase in the
consumption of tea in this country. It
is estimated that about two million
more pouads were sold this year
than last As a result a demand
for cheap priced teas has arisen, and
this has induced adulteration to very
large extent Along with the adulter-
alton, too, is the free use of chemicals
to improve the appearance of inferior
grades. These, in many cases, are in
furious to the system, and are some
times used in such quantities as to prove
serious irritants. A case of poisoning
of this kind was reported recently, and
physicians say that the nervousness
which some think is caused by drink
ing tea freely, lis in reality the effect of
adulterants,
A tea dealer in this city gave the
writer some facts concerning tea
adulteration. He said ga great de-
mand for cheap teas began with the sys-
tenn of giving presents with it in retail
tea stores, of which there are now
very many. All sorts of expedients
are adopted TO reduce the price of
tea brought to this country. The
principal form was that known as lie
tea, or false tea. 1t is just what it's
name implies. It consists of any nom
poisonous leaves rolled up and dried SO
as to resemble real tea. and mixed with
inferior tea leaves. In China the chill
dren are sent out III the early spring to
gather the young leaves just when they
are beginning to grow. These are
rolled up in the same way as tea leaves.
The mixture can only be detected by
an expert, and considerable quantities
of it were sold in this country prior to
the establishment (made necessary by
it's Importation of a tea inspector at
this port few years ago.
another common form of adultera-
ton consists of using exhausted tea
leaves. These are dried and rolled up
again into their former shape. They
have to be colored slightly, and then
form an adulterant almost impossible of
detection. This manner of reducing
the cost Of tea is frequently resorted to
in this city so as to avoid the scrutiny
of the inspector. As none but the
natives is familiar with the regular
methods of coloring teas, these ex-
hausted teas when made up in this
country are treated often with danger
Gus chemicals and coloring matters.
''In teas such as gunpowders, where
the leaf is rolled up into small, round
particles, the natives simply use mud
as an adulterant. When it is mixed up
with the tea the pieces of dry earth can
scarcely be noticed.
But the most dangerous thing to
the consumer of tea are the eXpedients
that are used for improving the APP
pearance of the inferior teas. AS a
rule, a well-looking tea is preferred,
and consequently every effort is direct
ed to give it an attractive appearance.
Black teas are generally safe enough,
being uncolored. Green teas, how
ever, are artifcially colored. Highly
polished, bluish-loobing leaves are, as
rule, the most dangerous, being SO
made by chemicals. Indigo is much
used to impart this tint, but many
think it is more readily attained by
Prussian blue. Very minute quanti-
ties are used, of course, but tea colored
in this way can hardly fail to prove
! deleterious if much of it is taken.
Copper also is used for the same pur-
poses. IN Y. Commercial AdUertaser.